Drake takes inaugural Champions race at FALS

Saturday

Jul 27, 2013 at 3:39 PM

Darlene Miller

Light showers throughout the day in the Fairbury area delayed the first of two nights of racing that make up the Prairie Dirt Classic, but when night fell Friday the green flags waved for more than 80 race cars in late model and modified classes.The Fairbury American Legion Speedway is hosting the World of Outlaw Late Model Series for the 24th annual PDC, which is paying $20,000 to tonight’s late model feature winner.Friday’s racing set the table for tonight’s showdown.There were 52 late model racers at FALS vying for a spot in tonight’s race through six heat races after qualifying wrapped up.Qualifying got under way an hour late, with one car, driven by Frank Heckenast Jr. of Frankfort, exciting the crowd when he broke the 13-second barrier, laying down a time of 12.986 seconds for the fast time.There was quite a bit of track preparation, which paid off with under 10 cautions sprinkled through all the night’s races.Heat race winners included veteran racer Dale McDowell of Georgia claiming the first heat. Pontiac driver Derek Chandler took the second heat, while Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., bested the field for the third heat. Previous FALS winner Mike Spatola of Manhattan, Ill., took the fourth heat, while Moweaqua’s Shannon Babb claimed the fifth heat and last week’s Fairbury feature winner Kevin Weaver of Gibson City won the final heat race.Other big names trying to race into tonight’s event include Jimmy Mars, Brandon Sheppard, Brian Shirley, Randy Korte, Tyler Reddick, Chub Frank, Bobby Pierce and Billy Drake. World of Outlaw Series regulars making the trek include Rick Eckert, Darrell Lannigan and Josh Richards.Although there was no feature Friday night, there was the inaugural Race of Champions, solely for past Classic and Shoot-Out winners as well as FALS champions.Eleven drivers started the race after Joe Harlan of El Paso and Brian Shirley scratched. Harlan’s racer had engine trouble.Billy Drake led wire-to-wire in the 25-lap feature, claiming $1,000 for the win.“This was a cool deal and I appreciate Fairbury putting this on,” Drake said, adding he was “proud to have won” this first-time race.It appeared that Scott Bull of Fairbury was going to give Drake a run for the money, but with two laps to go he hit a barrier tire in turn 2, which slowed him for a bit. Bull carried on to finish second, followed by Shannon Babb in third. Babb had started from the fifth row and charged his way toward the front.The weekend is also featuring top-notch modified action, with 34 cars competing in four heats for a $2,000 feature payday Friday and $3,000 on Saturday.Nate Zimmer claimed the 30-lap feature, leading from the start. Lance Dehm took second, Jacob Poel was third, Mike Harrison fourth and Jay Ledford rounded out the top five.Winning heats were Harrison, Zimmer, Ledford of Pontiac and Brian Barber of Kentucky.Steven Brooks of New Lenox captured fast time for the modified class and Jeff Leka and Matt Mevert claimed the semi-feature wins.